Two-way positive engine hoist



Sept. 5, 1933. c. BOHLEN, JR

TWO-WAY POSITIVE ENGINE HOIST .7

Filed Sept. 5, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet Ulmrla; flab/en, J21,

9.: M immune no:

Sept. 5, 1 933. C BQHLEN' JR 1,925,517

TWO-WAY POSITIVE ENGINE HOISI Filed Sept. 5, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 3441mm I'm Charles 30111011, lb: @313 M film/Ow Sept. 5, 1933. Q BOHLEN' JR 1,925,517

TWO-WAY POSITIVE ENGINE HOIST Filed Sept. 5, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet s Fly. 6

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Sept. 5, 1933.

'c. BO HLEN. JR

TWO-WAY POSITIVE ENGINE HOIST Filed Sept. 5, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 12 i l 0 1/ 13 Q o Muavwm: auntie/5 Bajzlan Jr.

M Mme/ma Patented Sept. 5, 1933 UNITED- TWO-WAY POSITIVE ENGINE Horsrr Charles BOIilh, Jr;, New York, N. in, assigns; minaret-mm! Motor Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application September E29 Serial No. 390,503

16 Claims; (01. 2 28 8? The present invention relates to fire apparatus and embodies, more specifically,- an improved vehicle ladder construction with power means to elevate and lower the ladder.

The requirements inservice of this character are very exacting and i-t-isquite necessary to provide a dependable ladder elevating mechanism which may be operated by mechanicalmeans, at the same time providing auxiliarymanual elevating means in order that the ladder may be raised or lowered by handin the event that the mechanical means should fail. The numerous strains impressed upon the ladder require a highly stable support and the present invention not only provides great stability but incorporates in the operating mechanism, the function of serving as a turn table as well as a fifth wheel;

having a turning center about the axis of the drive shaft and clutch operatingme'chanism.

An object of the present invention; therefore, is to provide a power operated ladder elevating vide suitable manual controlling means for the above power mechanismwhich are conveniently" located'upon' the turn table tofacilitate the operation of the ladder. I

It is further proposed 'to provide auxiliary hand operating mechanism for raising and lowering the ladder, as well as rotating the turn table with suitable interlocking mechanism betweenthemanuallyoperating mechanism for effecting the above operations and the hand controls for the power operating mechanism. a

A further object of the invention is to provide a turn t'ablean'd control stands for controlling the movement of the ladder without impeding the approach or exit to and from the'ladder on the platform.

A further object of the inventionis to provide a ladder elevating and lowering means which gives a relatively low speed for the first'twenty degrees of the movement of the ladder, thus picking up the load of the ladder slowly; then a higrispeed until the last twenty degrees of elevation, at whichv time the speed'is again slackened toenable-the ladder to; be brought-to rest slowly in the desired position.

A-further object of the invention is to provide an elevating mechanismin which the parts are so constructed that the supporting stresses do not cause bindingat the ring bearing of the turn table, thus permitting free orientation of the i turn table. v 1 l A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic mechanism for stopping the ladder at its position of maximum elevation, as well as stopping it automatically when it is brought to rest within its cradle. Further objects of theinvention, not specifically enumerated above, will be apparentas itis de scribed in greater detail in connection with the accompanying drawings, whereinz,

Figure 1 is a'view in side elevationsl owing; atractor and trailer provided. with a ladder and operating mechanism constructed in accordance with the present invention, V

Figure 2'- is a plan view showing the turn table: and controls of Figure 1-. I v Figure 3 is a view in vertical section taken through'the' controlling mechanism shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 isa View in section, taken on line of Figure 3, and looking in the direction of the arrows. p r v 1 Figure Eisaview in' section, taken on line of-Figure 3', and looking in the direction of the arrows. V r

Figure 6 is a viewin vertical: sectiontaken through the axis of the turn table and showing the; elevating mechanism of the present invention,

Figure'l isa view in section, taken on us of Figure 6, and looking in the direction of the arrows. v I

Figure 8 is a? detailed viewshowing the clutch opera-tinglmechanism of Figure 6.

Figure 9;is a view in section taken on line 9- -9 of Figure 6, and looking in" the direction ofth arrows; v

Figure 10 is a view in section, taken on line 10- 10 of" Figure 6, and looking in the direction ofthe-arrows. v, V I i p Referring-to the abovedrawings,- ddesignlts a tractor which draws a' trai ler at. The trailer may be of the usual ladde'r' supporting type having substructure a' and superstructure 11 These elements form no part of the present invention and further description thereof is be} lieved. unnecessary herein, A gear" box a is carried: on the tractor and drivenby the engine thereof a suitable manual control le'v er d serving to connect or disconn ect thej drive frorirthe engine to the auxiliarydrive shaft a fonsiip 13 ing power ftp-the ladder elevating-mechanism.

' Shaft a? extends frearwardly to' connection (1' carried on stub shaft (1, madden;musings;

Th clutch housing is disposed ininiediateIy below form, are provided {for locking the respective gears 12 and b to the shaft a These clutches b and b are selectively operated by a clutch operating mechanism to .be "described hereinafter. A driven gear I) is carried within housing I) and engages the bevel gears b and b the gear 11 being mounted upon a vertically disposed drive shaft d. J

A relatively stationary extension (2 is secured to the clutch housing I) at cl and serves as a a housing for shaft (1, the two being coaxial.

" 0* secure a ring bearing 0 Bearings d are provided to mount the shaft d in the extension.

Thefifth wheel 0 is rotatably associated with an annular bearing member 0 upon which bolts 0 supports the entire ladder and elevating mechanism upon the trailer and fifth wheel, ball bearings 0 being provided to take the thrust of the table when the ladder is elevated to an angle such that its gravitational component of load falls outside the turn table. Ball bearings 12 rotatably mount the bearings 0 upon the member 0. A gear box 6 is provided with pedestals e which are secured to the ring bearing 0 by bolts 6 Gear box 6 carries an auxiliary housing 1 having a downward extension f which is received within the upwardly extending housing d. The fitting between portions 01 and f is such as to permit relative movement therebetween about 'their common axis and the shaft (2 extends vertical axis in order that the ladder mechanism carried thereby may be properly directed.

A worm shaft 6 carries a worm e and is journaled in the gear box at e and e. Shaft 6 extends outwardly into the auxiliary housing 7 and carries a bevel gear e which meshes with the bevel pinion d Gear box 6 is provided with a cover e and shafts e and e are journaled in the box. A worm wheel e is mounted on shaft 6 and engages the worm e thus serving as a driving connection between shafts e and e Driving pinions 6 are carried on the shaft 6 and engage gears e on the shaft e Crank arms 9 arekeyed on the extremities of shaft 6 and are pivotally connected at their extremeties to links 9' which are pivoted to the ladder h at h'. The power means for elevating or lowering the ladder include, therefore, the following elements. Drive shaft a transmits power to a selected bevel pinion b or 22 the selected one of which drives the bevel gear b From gear b the drive'is transmitted through shaft :1 and bevel pinion d to bevel gear 6'' and shaft e The worm e on shaft e drives the worm wheel e and shaft c whiledriving pinions c drive gears e and shaft 6 Cranks g transmit the rotary motion of shaft 8 to links '9! and ladder h. A control platform 2' is carriedby the bearing 0 and- A-brackets 7' are'anchored to ring bearing 0 and provided, at their-upper extremities, with bearings 7" upon which the ladder h is journaled.

The ring bearing A control pedestal k is secured to the bearing 0 by bracket is and includes a clutch housing k and a control housing k Shaft 76 is carried axially within the housing It and is slidably mounted within sleeves k and k Sleeve k is formed with a worm wheel I0 while sleeve 70 is formed with a bevel pinion 70 A stub shaft k is journaled in the clutch housing k and ex- .tends axially of shaft R the upper end thereof being formed with a cup-shaped recess 10 having clutch teeth I0 and the lower end thereof carrying a spur gear k which engages teeth 0 on the annular supporting member 0.

Bevel pinion k is formed with a recess having clutch teeth I0 and shaft 70 is provided with male clutch elements is and 70 for engaging the respective female clutch elements Ia and 10 respectively.

The control housing k carries a transversely mounted shaft [C16 provided with a worm is for engaging the worm wheel is. A hand wheel 70 is keyed to the shaft I6 and provided with an arm 7e while the opposite extremity of shaft 10 is provided with a crank arm is and an arm 76 The motion of either crank 10 or hand wheel is is transmitted to shaft k through worm is and worm wheel is.

In order that the ladder may be elevated or lowered manually, the motion of shaft 10 1s transmitted to a shaft section Z journaled in an extension 10 on the clutch housing 10 A bevel gear I is keyed to the shaft Z and the motion of the shaft is transmitted through a universal joint Z to a shaft section 1 which is journaled in an extension of the auxiliary housing I. A bevel pinion l is keyed to the extremity of shaft section Z and engages bevel pinion d in the auxiliary housing f.- When shaft 10 is raised, clutch member Ic engages the clutch member 10 to lock sleeve k upon shaft 70 In this manner, the rotation of shaft 70 is transmitted to the shaft section Z and continued rotation thereof elevates or lowers the ladder depending upon the direction of such rotation. It will be understood, of course, that both clutches b and b are disengaged during such manual operation.

Within the controlhousing 70 a web 76 is formed and a stud shaft 70 is mounted in one wall of the housing and the web 10 A manually operable lever 10 is journaled on stub shaft k and carries an extension 10 provided with an inwardly extending roller 70 which engages a groove 70 in a collar on the upper extremity of shaft 70 In this manner, shaft k may be raised or lowered to engage, selectively, pairs of clutch elements 1613 and 10 or I0 and 10 When the shaft 70 is lowered to engage clutch elements 70 and k, shaftsection k is rotated with shaft 76* and the turn table is oriented as desired.

The control for clutches b and b iscarried by the control pedestal k and constitutes a manually operable lever 70 which is keyed to stub shaft 10 On the outer extremity of shaft is, a crank arm 10 is secured, this arm being connected to a link is which is secured to one arm of a bell crank lever 70 A second link It is connected to the other arm of the bell crank lever K and the other extremity of the second link is connected to'a crank arm 70 which is mounted upon a shaft k journaled in the auxiliary housing f. Shaft 10 extends within the housing and carries a crank arm 16 which is-formed with an inwardly extending lug I0 for engaging a groove m formed in a collar on a shaft m, Shaft m'- is supported in the turne and a head n is formed on the extremity of ing axis of the turntable and extends axially cured to a shaft d through shaft d, carrying at the lower extremity thereof yoke m Shaft d includes a sectiond which is splined thereto at 01- -Yoke'm may be formed with diagonal reinforcing webs 4W Extending inwardly from the sides of the clutch housing I), are-bosses b which mount, pivotally, bell crank members b connected by a spacing member b Upwardly extending arms 1) formed on the bell cranks b are provided with inwardly extending lugs b which engage the double male clutching member 19 for selectively engaging the clutch members 79 and b Movement of the arms b in one direction causes one of the clutches to be engaged, while movement in the opposite direction causes the other clutch to be engaged. Lateral arms 17 formed on the bell crank members (2 have heads b en-' gaging slots Z7 formed in the extremities of the yoke-shaped member m to transmit the vertical movement thereof to the bell crank levers D Vertical slots 12 are formed in the yoke m to' receive the bosses b and thus guide the movement of the yoke.

Supporting arms 6 suspend gear box e and cover e upon the shaft 7", the reaction to the lifting force incidental to the elevating or lowering of the ladder h, thus being taken by the shaft 7'" instead of being impressed upon the ring bearing c with consequent jamming thereof. From the disposition of the shaft centers 7" and e and the lengths of the links g and crank arms g, it will be apparent that no toggle action between suchmembers can ever take place. The

lines between the centers of shafts a", e and h will never lie in a common plane and thus an overhanging load tending to capsize the vehicle can never exist.

In order that the speed of raising or lowering may be accelerated at will, and controlled from the control pedestal k, a manual leverk is carried by a stub shaft 70 journaled within the control housing k An arm k secured to the stub shaft is is connected to a cable R which passesover a roller k4 carried by the extension 70 and is connected to an arm e 'pivoted to a lug formed on the gear box 6. A second arm e is formed on the arm 6 and is provided with a ball head for engaging a recess (1 in a sleeve d which is slidably keyed at d to housing d. A spring d normally urges the sleeve downwardly and lug d formed on the sleeve (1 is connected to a link d which, in turn, is connected to a lever (1 se- Shaft 11 is journaled in a bracket b and carries an arm 11 which is suitably connected to the throttle of a tractor engine which drives shaft 11 In this manner, the speed of the engine and consequently the speed of elevation of the ladder may be conveniently controlled.

In order that the ladder may be automatically stopped in its position of maximum elevation, as well as its position'of'rest within the cradle of the trailer, a segment n is secured to shaft e and is of an are equivalent tothe maximum number of degrees or length of are through which the ladder may be operated in moving from the operativeto inoperative position or vice versa less the number ofdegrees orlength of arc of the movable lug 11. A sleeve n is journaled on the shaft 6 and is provided with a lug n to which a two part link 11. is connected, the parts being pivoted at n This link is carried in asleeve n which is journaled in a boss n formed in a cover link n and provided with a spiral groove'n A nut n formed with rollers n extending with! in the grooves n is formed with a lever which is connected to a link n This link is provided: with a forked extremity to engage a head m on shaft m. When the ladder reaches a position of maximum elevation, a lug n carried by the sleeve 11', is engaged by the appropriate extremity of sector 12 and causes the link n to be moved forwardly. Such movement causes rollers 11 and nut n to be rotated with respect to the boss n and the link n is accordingly either elevated 'or lowered. This motion is transmitted tothe clutch controlling shaft 111. and causes dis engagement ofthe clutches b and 13* when the ladder reaches either extremity of movement.

It will beseen from Figure 2, that the control pedestal k: is offset with respect to the center line of the ladder, thus facilitating access thereto. The elevating mechanism is combined with the related structure in such manner that itfunctions not only as a turntable and hand wheel, but it includes the clutch operating shaft and drive shaft to raise and lower the ladder. Auxiliary hand operating mechanism is incorporated in the structure and a detent it, between manual levers 10 and It serves as an interlock to prevent operation of the manual mechanism, while the powermechanism is operating.

The operation of the mechanism will bereadily apparent from the foregoing description and is. accomplished by means of' the primary clutch lever a which connects the power take-off a to the source of power a. clutch mechanism, the ladder'may be controlled from the platform 1' by means of the controlling mechanism described above. Should the source of power fail, the operation of the ladder may be effected manually by means of wheel 10 by suitable manipulation of the control lever k which selectively engages'the clutching mechanism in housing to raise or lower the ladder. Control lever 70 is connected to the engine throttle and thus facilitates the speed with which the ladderis elevated and lowered by means of the power source. Lever I0 controls the clutches b and 13 through the mechanism including links 70 and k to actuate the shaft m selectively. In this fashion, the engine power may be utilized to elevate the ladder by suitable manipulation of the control lever 70 and the segment and cam 11. and n automatically preventing'the mechanism After engaging this 5 from operating after the ladder has been elevated.

to its maximum position. Reverse movement of the ladder is effected in an obvious fashion and such movement is also automatically stopped when the ladder reaches its cradle position.

' All of the controls are conveniently located on the turntable platform and the ladder is con-v I.

trolled automatically after the operation of the power means has been initiated. The supporting of the gear box upon the ladder fulcrum prevents binding of the ring bearing since the load stresses are neutralized and carried entirely by the gear Iv box and elevating links.

Whilet'he invention has been described in con-inection with the specific construction shown in the accompanying drawings, it is not to be li'mited,

gear box carrying a ladder elevating shaft, means in the box to drive the shaft from the power shaft, an axially movable shaft in the box, a connection between the axially movable shaft and the clutch operating member, a sleeve rotatable on the ladder elevating shaft and connected to the axially movable shaft, a dog on the sleeve, and a segment on the elevating shaft to engage the dog.

.2. A. device of the character described comprising a turntable, a power shaft disposed axially of the turntable, a clutch driving the shaft, a clutch operating member disposed axially of the shaft, a gear box carrying a ladder elevating shaft, means in the box to drive the shaft from the power shaft, an axially movable shaft in the box, a connection between the axially movable shaft and the clutch operating member, and means actuated by the ladder elevating shaft for moving the last mentioned shaft axially.

3. A device of the character described comprising a turntable, a power shaft disposed axially of the turntable, a clutch driving the shaft, a clutch operating member disposed axially of the shaft, a ladder elevating shaft, and means actuated by the ladder elevating shaft for operating the clutch operating member upon predetermined movement of the ladder.

4. A device of the character described comprising a turntable, a ladder supports on the turntable, a ladder hinged to the supports, a gear box hung at one end on the ladder hinge and supported, at the other end, on the turntable, a power shaft journaled in the gear box, a crank arm connected to the shaft, and an arm connecting the crank arm and ladder.

5. A device of the character described comprising a turntable, ladder supports on the turntable, a ladder hinged to the supports, a gear box connected to the hinge of the ladder and carrying a power shaft, and means connecting the power shaft and ladder to elevate the latter, whereby the thrust due to elevating forces will be taken by the hinge of the ladder.

6. A device of the character described comprising a turntable, a ladder hinged thereon, a drive shaft carried by the turntable, a crank arm carried by the shaft, and an arm pivoted to the crank arm and to the ladder, the pivot points of the last named arm lying in a plane passing through the axis of the shaft when the ladder is in its normally lowered position. .1: 7. A device of the character described comprising a turntable, a ladder hinged thereon, drive means carried by the turntable, an arm pivoted to the ladder, and means connecting the arm and the drive means to elevate the ladder slowly at the beginning and end of its movement, and more rapidly in the intervening movement.

8. A device of the character described comprising a turntable, a ladder mounted thereon, means to elevate the ladder, power means to operate the elevating means, a power take-off connected to the power means, a manually operable shaft, a clutch connecting the power take-01f to the manually operable shaft, means to rotate the turntable, a second clutch connecting the turntable rotating means to the manually operable shaft, and means to move the shaft axially to engage the clutches selectively and to position the shaft in, an intermediate non-clutch engaging position.

9. A device of the character described comprising a turntable, a ladder mounted thereon, means to elevate the ladder, power means to operate the" elevating means, a power take-01f connected to the power means, a manually operable shaft, a clutch connecting the power take-off to the manually operable shaft, means to rotate the turntable, a second clutch connecting the turntable rotating means to the manually operable shaft, and means to move the shaft axially to engage the clutches selectively.

10. A device of the character described comprising a turntable, a ladder mounted thereon, means to elevate the ladder, power means to operate the elevating means, a power take-off connected to the power means, a manually operable shaft, a clutch connecting the power take-off to the manually operable shaft, means to rotate the turntable, and means to move the shaft axially to engage it selectively with the power take-off and the turntable rotating means.

11. A device of the character described comprising a turntable, a ladder mounted thereon, means to elevate the ladder, power means to operate the elevating means, a manually operable power shaft, a power take-01f connected to the power means, a clutch connecting the power take-off to the manually operable shaft, and means to move the manually operable shaft axially to connect it selectively with the power take-off through the clutch.

12. A device of the character described comprising a turntable, a ladder mountedthereon, means to elevate the ladder, power means to operate the elevating means, and common manual means to operate the elevating means and rotate the turntable.

13. A device of the character described comprising a fifth wheel, a turntable rotatably carried thereby, a ladder operating shaft coaxial with the turntable, a clutch carried with the fifth wheel and supplying power to the ladder operating shaft, and a clutch operating shaft coaxial with the ladder operating shaft.

14. A device of the character described comprising a turntable, a ladder mounted thereon, means to elevate the ladder, drive means coaxial with the axis of the turntable for operating the elevating means, a sleeve surrounding the drive means and movable axially thereof, means actuated by the sleeve to vary the speed of the drive means, and means on the turntable to actuate the sleeve.

15. A device of the character described comprising a turntable, a ladder mounted thereon, means to elevate the ladder, power means to operate the elevating means, manual means to operate the elevating means, and an interlock between the power and manual means to prevent the simultaneous connection of the manual and power means to the ladder elevating means.

16. A device of the character described comprising a turntable, a ladder mounted thereon, means to elevate the ladder, drive means coaxial with the axis of the turntable for operating the elevating means, means mounted concentric with the turntable for reversing the drive means, means mounted on the turntable forcontrolling the reversing means, and means on the turntable for controlling the speed of the driving means.

CHARLES BOI-ILEN, JR. 

